Weld to use voting centers

Voting in Weld County will take less time, be more secure and cost the county less if a blueprint to consolidate voting precincts into voting centers works as planned.

Weld will replace the 103 voting precincts it has used in the past with at least 21 voting centers for the next election, Nov. 1. The centers will be larger, require less staff and use a computerized system to locate voters’ names quickly and make sure they fill out only one ballot.

This is how the system will work: Registered voters will go to a voting center and meet a greeter, who will ensure they have proper identification. Weld voters will be able to go to any county center they like, instead of a specific precinct.

Once they pass the greeter, a staffer will find names in a computer record of registered voters. The computer system will be an in-county system, which would allow election judges to see all eligible voters in the county and determine whether they have voted. The system will be closed, meaning it’s not on the Internet where it would be vulnerable to hackers and tampering.

From there, voters will find an increased number of voting booths per site, where they can cast their ballots and be on their way.

Weld Clerk and Recorder Steve Moreno said he thinks the system will drastically improve the voting process and make it easier and more efficient.

Larimer County has used voting centers for the past three elections. Larimer clerk Steve Doyle said he continues to look for the best locations for centers, but there have been almost no problems.

“The main benefit is that our voters love it because it’s convenient for them,” Doyle said.

Doyle said election staff could move a 100-foot line through the process in 20 minutes. The computerized system allows judges to locate voter names quickly. If there is a problem, voters can be transferred to another table and another computer. In the past, election judges had to sort through a single book and one person could delay the whole line. That doesn’t happen anymore, Doyle said.

“The line never stops moving,” Doyle said.

Another benefit is reduced cost. While there are more election judges per site, the overall number needed will decrease by half, Moreno said. There will also be a savings on equipment. Under the Help America Vote Act, voting sites across the country will be required to have at least one electronic voting machine, called DREs, by Jan. 1, 2006.

DREs — direct recording electronic machines — make it easier for persons with disabilities to vote and will likely cost $500-$1,000 per machine, Moreno said. Multiply that cost by 103 precincts, and 21 voting centers make even more sense, Moreno said.

Weld County will consolidate 103 voting precincts into at least 21 voting centers for the next election. Five centers will also serve as early voting sites, open two weeks before election day. More voting centers could be added. For more information about voting in Weld County, call the office of the Weld Clerk and Recorder, 304-6525.